Thrashers move to Winnipeg
ByReuters
Updated 21/06/2011 at 22:23 GMT
The NHL have formally approved the sale and relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg, rubber-stamping the first franchise relocation in the league since 1997.
Hockey fans celebrate the return of NHL hockey during a rally in Winnipeg, Manitoba, May 31, 2011. Canada reclaimed one of its lost NHL franchises on Tuesday when the Atlanta Thrashers were sold to True North Sports and Entertainment and relocated to Winn
Image credit: Reuters
Winnipeg hockey fans began celebrating last month when the Thrashers were sold to True North Sports and Entertainment, led by partners Mark Chipman and billionaire David Thomson, Canada's richest man and chairman of news and information company Thomson Reuters.
But the sale agreement was dependent upon the approval of the NHL's board of governors, who met in Manhattan on Tuesday to cast their votes.
"The Board unanimously approved both the sale of the Atlanta franchise to True North, which is Mark Chipman and David Thomson, and the relocation of Thrashers to Winnipeg," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said.
"Obviously, everybody is sorry and distressed and unhappy that we found ourselves in the circumstance where our franchise was leaving Atlanta.
"We feel particularly sorry for the fans over there. But obviously, based on the reception that we've gotten, everybody is extremely excited about the opportunities in Winnipeg for our return."
The Winnipeg franchise has still not been named but marked Tuesday's announcement by launching its own website. The team will initially play in the Southeast division in 2011-12, but was expected to be moved to the Western Conference from the following season.
"We are very honoured by the NHL Board of Governors' unanimous decision today," Chipman said in a statement on the team's website (winnipeg.nhl.com)."
"We know that the fans of this province have an appetite for NHL hockey that is rivalled by few in the league and intend to work very hard to make Manitobans proud of our franchise for years to come."
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